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Sussex‑Backed 'Cookie Queens' Flops at U.S. Box Office

Industry analysts say weak theatrical returns reveal a gap between headline attention and paying audiences, prompting calls for a strategic professional pullback.

Overview

  • The documentary opened in U.S. cinemas on August 7, 2026, and posted an opening-weekend take reported between about $327,000 and $354,000 from 446 theaters with roughly $735 per screen.
  • A compilation film, CatVideoFest 2026, out-earned Cookie Queens the same weekend by taking in about $569,000 from 255 theaters and posting a far higher per‑screen average.
  • Meghan Markle promoted the film ahead of release and Archewell Productions is credited as an executive producer, but positive festival reviews did not translate into strong ticket sales.
  • Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield and PR experts urged the couple to ‘disappear professionally,’ sharply reduce public announcements, and prioritize one well‑executed project led by experienced producers.
  • The box‑office shortfall renewed scrutiny of the Sussexes’ post‑royal media record — where the biggest commercial draws centered on royal revelations such as the Oprah interview, Netflix’s Harry & Meghan and Harry’s memoir Spare — and could make partners more cautious about future deals.